Will Sumners, Chief Operating Officer
Will joined KNS as Chief Operating Officer in 2014 adding to his role as part owner. His experience leading up to KNS include Vice President of GE Access where he ran multiple business units including Canada and Brazil. He also successfully grew a U.S. business unit from $138 million to $350 million before leaving to run his own company. When Will isn’t running the daily operations of the business, you can find Will fishing or skiing.
John Thomas, Chief Technology Officer, Owner
John joined KNS 25 years ago as a field engineer. After years of extensive work with SCADA, Microwave, Two-Way Radio and more, he became Chief Technology Officer and part owner. John specializes in high level system designs, troubleshooting of technical issues, and research of new products for KNS and our customers. When he’s not working, John enjoys spending time with his family and the outdoors.
Bruce Riley, Business Development Manager
Bruce has over 25 years of experience in the information technology industry and has a background in Data Warehousing and Analytics solutions, most recently with the Microsoft technology stack. Bruce brings a wealth of knowledge to this role. He has been successful in launching new business ventures, as well as a number of business expansions and startups including new product launches. Bruce has a true passion for client retention, delivering successful solutions and building long term business relationships. Bruce is leading the efforts focused on revenue growth, client relationships and the expansion of KNS Communications into new industry segments. Bruce resides in Evergreen, Colorado and is a 17-year retired volunteer wildland firefighter and first responder. He enjoys everything that Colorado provides out of doors… fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, skiing and 300 days of sunshine.
Ron Pitcock, Jr., Business Development
Ron joined KNS in 2020 bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for customer service to our sales team. He has over 30 years of technical sales experience working in multiple segments of the communications industry. He has been part of multiple successful start-ups including being a co-founder of a cable modem integrator that eventually went public and was purchased by a major cable television organization. He prides himself on problem-solving and coming up with creative solutions to the most difficult problems. Ron has lived in Colorado since 1992 and is a proud fan of the Denver Broncos. Hobbies include fishing and anything related to fitness.
Sue Thomas, President, Owner
Sue founded the company with her late husband Ken in 1979 and has been a critical part of the company ever since. As President and majority owner of KNS Communications Consultants, her expertise includes Microwave System Design, RF Coverage and propagation and system design. Sue holds CEU’s in RF system design on top of her graduate coursework in Telecommunications Electronics and Microwave System Design from the University of Denver. In her free time Sue is an organist, an accomplished pianist, enjoys cruising the open seas, sews and does handwork and gardening.
Emily Usset, Marketing Coordinator
KNS added Emily to the team as marketing coordinator in 2015. Her previous experience includes B2B marketing for companies ranging from insurance to manufacturing to professional sports teams. Her duties know no end at KNS, from supporting tradeshows to creation of all marketing materials, to website design and creation. Emily received her BSBA in Marketing from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. When not working, Emily is working out, baking, or watching hockey.
Julie St. Clair, Controller
Julie joined the KNS team as Controller in early 2014. Prior to joining the team, she was a Controller at a communications company. Julie is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA. She holds an undergraduate degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Colorado / Boulder. Consistent with her Colorado roots, Julie is an avid Buff fan and skier.
Chris Siggins, Senior Project Manager
Chris began his KNS career in 2014 as a senior radio frequency engineer and project manager. His strong background in project management and nearly 20 years of RF network engineering, designing, deploying and maintaining networks led to his new role in the company as Engineering Manager, overseeing KNS’s team of engineers. In his free time, he enjoys time with his family, coaching youth soccer, cycling, and fishing.
Katie Meyer, Key Account Executive
Katie joined the KNS team as Key Account Executive in 2012 as our first sales person. Prior to KNS, Katie worked 14 years in the telecommunications industry, selling and supporting Voice Radio, Microwave Backhaul and mission critical communications. Since her arrival at KNS, her skills have helped to grow the business significantly and carve the path to diversifying the company into other vertical markets. She enjoys spending time with her family, attending her son’s soccer games, and watching football.
Rick Nally, Engineering Manager
Rick has joined KNS as Engineering Manager. Rick brings to KNS over 30 years of lead role experience in the wireless and wireline telecommunications industry. Prior to KNS, Rick was the founder and CEO of Nalcom Wireless Communications INC. and Bluewater Wireless LLC. Rick brings to KNS world wide experience with the design and implementation of advanced telecommunications networks and systems for Oil and Gas and Campus Environment applications. In addition, Rick was instrumental within the US, in the fields of Public Safety, Land Mobile Radio, Emergency Operations, and turn-key communications tower construction. He is well versed in FCC/FAA and International Regulatory requirements concerning advanced wireless technologies. Rick also bring experience as prior City Alderman and serving on various non-profit Board of Directors Rick enjoys time with his family and grandchildren, fishing, hunting, and cycling.
Don Leyn, Director of Business Development
Don has been the Director of Business Development since January of 2015. Before joining KNS, Don was Co-Owner of an Irrigation Contracting Firm, Director of Sales and Marketing for a Manufacturing company, Owner of a Sales Consulting Firm, and Partner and VP of Sales and Marketing of a Landscape Lighting Manufacturer. His vast experience in lead roles for his previous companies makes him a valuable asset for KNS. As the founder and president of a local cycling club, he devotes his time to charitable events in and around the cycling industry. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, his two children and his two grandchildren.
Jacob Carpenter, Account Executive
Jake was brought onto the KNS team as account executive in 2016. Prior to joining KNS, Jake worked in operations and outside sales for a major Oil & Gas service company. His hands-on experience with SCADA, radio, and microwave backhaul systems in extreme and remote environments made his transition easy when joining KNS. Jake works tirelessly to maintain superior customer service and provide job-specific engineering and solutions to his clientele. When not at work, he likes to spend his time “re-living the glory days” with intramural sports, and hunts whenever he gets the chance.
Linda Sumner, Sales Coordinator
Linda joined KNS as Sales Coordinator in 2017. She brings her customer focused, solution selling approach to KNS with over 20 years of project management experience and over 15 years in sales support. In her free time, you can find her either in the gym or hiking on one of Colorado’s many trails.
Dale S. Betts, Account Executive
Dale received a Master’s of Science and Telecommunications from University of Colorado, GO BUFFS! Since then, Dale has worked in the telecommunications industry for 35 years. Eighteen of these years she held various sales roles including VP of sales for a major corporation. Dale’s experience with sales from small companies to Fortune 100 companies makes her a viable asset to the KNS team. When Dale is not in the office, she enjoys cooking, skiing, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Ed Zinter, Field Account Executive
Ed joined KNS as Field Account Executive in 2017. Ed has had a very successful sales career spanning over 19 years in the communications industry. He specializes in building strategic partnerships and relationships with his clients. Ed has also owned his own financial services company for 7 years that focused on leasing hardware and other equipment in the communications industry. Over his career, Ed has consistently been a top producer. Ed provides his clients a disciplined strategy process that ensures he meets and exceed the expectations of his clients. Ed is a native of Colorado. He is married with 3 daughters and 1 granddaughter. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf and shooting sporting clays.